Coin-operated vending machine



02.22, 19291 c. F. KURTZ 1,732,272

COIN OPERATED VENDING MACHINE m \f R Q) Q aka/MW? $2 ATTORNEY IN VEN TOR.

Oct. 22, 1929.

c, F. KURTZ COIN OPERATED VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. .11, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet ii I 3, q 46' 0 INQVTOR. ulm f Mm h.

M ATTORNEY.

Oct. 22, 1929.

C. F. KURTZ COIN OPERATED VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 11, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

M ATTORNEY.

CHARLES F. KUB-IZ, OF

devices.

Patented Oct. 22 1929 UNITED STATES 1 PATENT! OFFICE f ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF '1 0 HARRY IrONGg'OF ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS COIN-OPERATED VENDING MACHINE Application filed November 11, 1927. Serial No. 232,522.

My invention has reference to a coin operated vending machine, of that type which is set forth in an application for Letters Patent of the United States filed by myself on the twenty-first day of March, 1927, Serial No. 176,931. In this class of machines a series of packages is supported on an inclined plane, in such manner as to feed automatically towards a discharge opening, and in some cases the column of packages will bear against the lowermost package with suflicient force to interfere with the opera- I tion of the mechanism designed to assist in the release and discharge of such package. One of the purposes of the present invention is to provide a novel receiving and releasing apparatus which will not be affected by the pressure of the packages in the inclined slide, and which will operate efficiently in the discharge of successive packages from the machine.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide mechanism for the release of the first of a series of parcels which will cause a positive discharge thereof, and which will act as a bar to the next succeeding package in the column. In connection with this mechanism is a movable guard which will interfere with the surreptitious removal of the packages.

The above named and other features and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows the invention in side elevation, with one of the sides of the casing removed. I I

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the lower end thereof, showing the discharge mechanism in operated position.

Fig. 3 is a similar view, nism in a normal position.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the the partition 6 removed.

, Fig. 5 is a detail of the primary switch mechanism, with the switch. closed.

Fig. 6 is a similar view with the switch open.

Fig. 7 is a face view of the primary with said mechainvention with switch of packages of the Fig. 8 is a detail of the catch mechanism for holding the plunger 26 from movement.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical connections made use of in actuating the device. c i

As set forth herein, the invention is contained within acasing, comprising a pair of a floor 4,'and a top 5,

sides 1, ends 2 and 3, preferably of glass. Supported in spaced parallel relation with the top is a partition 6, forming the bottom of a passageor chute 7, of suitable dimensions to contain a series. kind to be vended by the machine. A number of said packages are indicated at 8, and may ,consistof rolls of mints or other confections, or packages of gum. The casing is designed to be supported in an inclined position, with a suflicient slope to cause a ready movement of the packages toward a throat 9 at the lower end of the chute, by force of gravity. The lower-most parcel drops into a pocket the bottom of which is formed by an angle-plate 10, below which is a discharge chute 11, leading to an opening 12 in the end 3 of the casing.

Slidable on the upper part of the plate 10 is a plunger 13, to the ends of which .are'attached the ends of a frame 14, said frame ends being united by a bar passing beneath the bottom of the chute'll. The upper plate of the plunger 13 is slidable beneath an angleplate 15, one face of which formsone side of v the throat 9. Spaced from the plunger is a guard frame 17, swingingly supported as at a, said frame forming the inner side ofth e parcel pocket, when the parts are in a normal position, as shown in Fig. 3. The ends of the package.

r a The invention is shown and set forth herein guard are engaged by pins 19 in the'ends of Mounted on the floor 4 in rear of the chute 11 is a support 16, to. the upper part of which is pivoted a plate 18, as at 6. One corner of said plate is connected with the frame 14, by means of a link 20. In line with said plate is a coupling 22, projected from one end of which is a rod 23, connected by a link 24 with the opposite corner of the plate 18, as at 0. Secured on one side of the floor 4 is a solenoid 25, containing a cylinder 25, in which is slidable a bar plunger 26. On the outer end of said plunger is a collar 27 engaged by a fork on the end of a lever 28, fulcrumed on a bearing on the floor 4, as at cl. The free end of the lever 28 is connected by a link 29 with a lever 30, fulcumed at e, and pivotally confii'e'eted with the coupling 22. Said levers are held in a normal position, with the plunger 26 extended, by means of a coiled spring 31.

Upon the solenoid 25 being electrically charged the plunger 26 is drawn inwardly,

V rocking the levers 28 and 30 in a direction to "own weight and momentum.

move the coupling 22 in the same direction as the plunger. The movement of said coupling is imparted through the rod 23 and plate 18 to the frame 14, moving said frame and the plunger 13 downwardly and inward- 1y. The plunger forces ahead of it the lower- 'mo'st package, shown contained in the pocket in Fig. 3, the package at the same time moving the guard 17 inwardly, until a passage is cleared, permitting the package to drop into the chute 11, from which it is expelled by its 8 In the package expelling movement of the plunger 13 the upper plate thereof closes the throat 9, forming fasupport and obstruction to the next succeeding package in the column. Upon the plunge'r b'eing returned to its normal position this package drops into the space between the plunger and guard, ready to be discharged in its turn, while another package is tipped into fan inclined position in the throat. This latter package receives the bulk of the pressure exerted by the column of packages in the "chute, and the lower-most package is not affected thereby. There is therefore little or no interference with the plunger 13 in its movement for discharging the package.

The end of the cylinder 25 is preferably closed, a cushion of air therein operating to "retard the movement of the plunger 26, and

-correspondingly prolong the duration of fmovement of the coupling 22. This will defer the operation of the mechanisms for returning the various devices to a normal position,and give all of said devices ample time in which to operate, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the upper end of the casing is a coin slot 33, in which a coin of established size and value may be inserted, passing downwardly along a curved passage 34 into a chute 35. at

the lower end of which the coin comes in contact with an angle-plate 36, pivotally supported as at f, the coin being indicated at 32. The other arm of said angle-plate is in engagement with a slide-plate 37, carrying a pair of switch terminals 38, adapted for con= tact with terminals 39 on a frame 40. The

contact of the coin with the angle-plate causes ture 42 is attracted thereto, causing a contact of the points 46 and 47, and closing a circuit through the solenoid, which operates in the manner hereinbefore set forth.

Upon the armature being attracted toward the magnet 41 the end thereof slides past the nose of the catch 48, which engages such end and locks the armature from release. The action of the catch is impelled by means of a spring 49, which is supported to bear against the catch to hold it yieldably in engaging position. The catch is provided with an extension 51 in the end of which is a set-screw 52, hearing against a block 53-011 one end of a bar 54, slidable transversely of the floor 4. Pivoted on the floor as'at h is a bell-crank lever 55, one of the ends of which is connected by a rod 56 with the coupling 22,- and the other end with the slide-bar 54. At the latter part of the movement of the plunger 26 the lever 55 is operated to cause the bar 54 to move in a'direction to force the catch 48 outwardly, permitting the return of the armature 42 to an open position. The movement of the bar 54 also causes a push-plate 57 supported thereby to dislodge the coin from the lower part of the chute, forcing it sideways therefrom, and into a discharge chute 58, from which it passes downwardly intoa box 59, removably supported beneath the floor 4. The push-plate also blocks the passage of a second coin that might have been introduced into the coin slot, and prevents the same from functioning until the first coin is deposited in the box, and the mechanism re-set for an other operation.

The slide-bar 54 also carries an arm 60, the

end of which engages a lug on the slide-plate 37, operating the same to release the switches 3839 coincidently with the release of the coin, and just preceding the release of the catch 48.

The coin-chute-contains aslot '62, of rela it will pass through 1 the slot 62, without affecting the machine. By tipping the machine into a vertical position a coin of any size that will enter the coin slot will drop straight down against the angle-plate 36, and operate the machine. To prevent such operation a wire guard 63 is pivoted at one side of the coin chute, and provided at its outer end with a weight 64. When the casing is supported in a vertical position said weight will swing the guard into position with the bent end thereof projected into the passage way of the coins, so as to intercept the movement of any coin entering the chute. As the casing is returned to an inclined position the weight swings the guard upwardly, permitting the coin to resume its course. If the intercepted coin is one of the regular ones for operating the machine it passes on down the chute into contact with the angle-plate 36. If it is of smaller size it drops through the slot 62 as before mentioned.

To prevent accidental release of a package, such as might be caused by shaking the machine to such an extent as to operate some of the parts, a lock is provided for the plunger 26, consisting ofa catch 65, pivoted at -i, and adapted for engagement with the outer flange of the collar 27 when the plunger is at its extreme outer position, as shown in Fig. 8. This engagement is made positive by means of a coiled spring 66 interposed between said catch and the side of the casing. Near said catch an L-shaped lever 67 is pivoted, as at k, said lever having an upwardly turned arm 68, which bears against the inner face of the catch 65. The short arm of said lever is connected by a rod 69 with a late 7 O fixed to the armature 42 so as to project beyond the pivotal point thereof. The initial movement of the armature is thus imparted through the rod 69 and lever 67 to the catch 65 to release the same from engagement with the plunger, and permit the same to function. The timing of the devices is such that the catch is released just preceding the contact of the terminals 46 and 47, by means of which the solenoid is energized. Upon the armature being dis-engaged from the magnet 41 the lever 67 is again moved to withdraw the arm 68 and permit the re-engagement of the catch 65 with the plunger 26 upon its again moving outwardly.

The arrangement of the electrical system is substantially as laid out in Fig. 9, the wires A and B indicating main lines which are connected with a source of electrical energy, not shown in the drawing. From the wire B a wire C extends to the solenoid 25, from which another wire, D leads to the terminal 47. From the wire C a wire E leads to the switch points 39, and the terminals 38 are connected by a wire F with the magnet 41. Another wire G leads from said magnet to the the return of the armature wire A, and the contact 46 is also connected I with the last-named wire.

- The cycle of operations is as follows:- Upon a coin being inserted in the slot 33 it passes downwardly into contact with the angle-plate 36, closing the switches 38-39, energizing the magnet 41 and operating the armature 42. This releases the catch 65 and closes the points 46 and 47, closing a circuit through the solenoid 25. This results in the operation of the package discharging devices, through the action of the levers 28 and 30. Near the end of the movement of the plunger 26 the slide-bar 54 is actuated to discharge the coin from the coin chute, open the switch 3839, and release the catch 48, permitting 42 to its orignal position, which is effected by the force of gravity. Upon the plunger 26 moving outwardly again the rod 56 is again moved forwardly, rocking the lever 55 and returning the slide-bar 54 to an inoperative position. While the complete cycle of movements appears to be performed instantly, there is a brief interval between the several movements which gives a retarding efiect thereto, and provides ample time for all of the parts to act in their desired sequence. This is aided by the retarded movement of the plunger 26 before referred to.

The inclined position in which the casing is held not only aids in the movement of the packages therein, but it also places such packages in a convenient position for display.

While the invention has been set forth herein in use for dispensing packages of a smaller type, it may be adapted for the automatic sale of larger packages of a uniform shape and size, such as bread, breakfast foods, coffee, tea, and many others. The size of the machine would have to be correspondingly increased. The machine is found to operate most satisfactorily when the parcel chute is inclined at an angle of approximately fortyfive degrees with its support.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the class described, a casing and chute therein for containing a series of parcels movable therein by gravity, and provided with a. suitable discharge opening, a pocket capable of receiving a single parcel at a time from said chute, consisting of a stationary floor, a side movable to expel said parcel from the pocket, a frame connected with said side and capable of a reciprocating movement, and a side movable in parallel relation with said first-named side and serving as a guard to prevent the release of said parcel except in the regular operation of the machine, said frame and said last-named side having connections preventing movement of said side except with said frame and the other si e.

2. In a device of the class described, '2. casing and inclined passage therein, provided at its discharge end witha downwardly diverging throat, a pocket beneath said throat cons'isting of a stationary floor, a plate slidable on said floor to carry a parcel to a point beyond the end thereof, and a plate swingingly supported in parallel relation with the first-named plate, a frame connected with the slidable plate and capable of a reciprocating movement, and connections between said frame and said swinging plate, to hold said plate from movement except upon the operation of said slidable plate, said connections permitting an increased spacing between said plates toward the end of the operation, to permit the ready release of a parcel.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHARLES F. KURTZ. 

